Obturator for breech-loading ordnance.



G. GERDOM. OBTURATOB FOR BREEOH LOADING ORDNANGE. APPLICATION PI'LED JAN. 25, 1906.

1,090,204. Patented Mar. 17, 19M

COLUMBIA ILANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTDN, u. :4

ran STATES rain curios.

GREGORY GERDOIVQDF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO ORDNANCE IMPROVE- MEN'I COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern l Be it known that I, GREGORY GERDoM, a citizenof the. United States, residing at \Vatervliet, Albany county, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Obturator for Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas check padsfor breech loadingordnanc'e,

and particularly to improvements upon the invention disclosed and covered by Letters Patent No. 732541, issued June 30, 1903, its object being to provide an improved construction of envelop for the pad and a superior composition. forthe corev or body thereof. I l

Prior to the invention ofmy'Patent No. 732,541, June 30th,'l903, the common type of gas check pad consisted of a plastic composition of asbestos and tallow, inclosed in an envelop or covering of canvas. The objections to that type of pad were two-foldz first, the combustible character of the envelop or cover, whereby slight leakage of gas would burn and ruin it; second, the susceptibility of the composition to changes of temperature, whereby, under conditions met with in actual service, the composition might become frozen or so hard as not to function properly, or become so soft as to fail to maintain its proper form and operate certainly. Both of these objections were overcomein large degree by my patent referred to.

The present invention is intended to be a further improvement upon my prior patent. I have found that it is desirable to prevent the slight exudation of composition through theholes of the wire cloth especially on the exterior and interior circumferences and corners of the pad,'where it is most exposed, this protection of the outer circumference and corners being of more importance than of the inner circumference because subject to contact with the wall of the gun, and also to secure a composition which is still more durable in its character and less susceptible to varying temperatures than that set forth and described in my patent above cited. I have found that t-ung oil possesses extraordinary. properties of permanency of condition and resistance to both heat and'c'old. It therefore is a very superior ingredient for a composition which OBTUBATOR BREEGH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ria 1"}, 1914,, Application filed January 25, 1996. Serial No. 297,740.

is to be subjected to the extraordinary and trying requirements of a gas check pad for heavy ordnance. When boiled with other oils or grease as herein set forth it produces aj elly-like mass which will neither melt nor freeze under wide ranges of temperature, whereby the pad will function properly under all temperature conditions of actual service. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, I show the improved ;construction of cover or envelop, Figure 1 being a cross-sectional view of a pad, Fig. 2 a plan view, and Fig. 3 a detail showing the shape of the asbestos cloth blank which is folded around the outer circumference of the padunderneath the wire cloth envelop.

In the drawings the pad A, which is of the wellknown form of the de Bange type of plastic pad, is provided with an outer wire cloth cover or envelop 2, inclosing the body or core of plastic composition 3. To pre vent the exudation of the composition throughthe openings in the wire cloth particularly on the outer circumference of the pad where it is exposed to contact with the inner wall of the chamber of the gun, and also the adjacent corners and the inner circumference and corner of the pad which is in contact with the mushroom head, I insert beneath the wire cloth a lining of asbestos cloth 4. This cloth is cut in the form indicated in Fig. 3 so as to surround the outer circumference of the pad, being curved as shown, to make it conform to the tapered or conical shape of the pad. These blanks are preferably first saturated with a composition of glue and linseed oil prepared substantially as follows: The glue is water heated so that when cold it is a thin jelly. To this is added about one-third of its weight of boiled linseed oil, the two being thoroughly beaten together until the oil and glue are thoroughly mixed. This composition is then applied to the cloth on both sides and when about one-half dried is ready to be placed around the pad, strips being laid around the inner and outer circumferences, as shown in the drawings, and the edges folded over'the adjacent corners. The pad should then be compressed at once, after which the wire cloth is applied and secured in place either by solder or otherwise as preferred. After the wire cloth has been applied, the pad is again subjected to heavy pressure, which forces the wires into the mass of the core. The pad is then subjected to the usual treatment for finishing and coating for storage, handling or use. The asbestos cloth protects and prevents exudation of the composition when in service or when the pad is handled in being taken from or placed in the gun.

For the composition I prefer to employ the following named ingredients compounded as hereinafter described, two pounds of tung oil, otherwise known as Chinese wood oil, one pound of winter strained lard oil, boiled together for about ten minutes. Add gradually about three ounces of potash; continue the boiling until the ingredients form a thick mass, then add slowly one and a half pounds of lard oil and one and a half pounds of petroleum jelly, the heat being carefully maintained. After the ingredients are thoroughly and uniformly mingled, let the mass cool and when cold add finely shredded asbestos in the proportion of 35 to 15 pounds of the mixture with 65 to pounds of asbestos.

WVhile the above named ingredients of lard oil and petroleum jelley are preferred, yet it is possible to secure a very satisfactory composition by substituting for those ingredients certain other oils, such as sperm oil, neats foot oil and some vegetable oils.

I claim:

1. A gas check pad comprising a plastic core, a wire cloth envelop, and a circumferential interlining of asbestos cloth.

2. A gas check pad comprising a plastic core, a wire cloth envelop and a circumferential interlining of asbestos cloth treated with a cementing composition.

3. A gas check pad comprising a plastic core, a wire cloth envelop and a circumferential interlining of asbestos cloth coated with glue and linseed oil.

4:. A gas check pad comprising a plastic core, a wire cloth envelop and an interlining of asbestos cloth upon the circumference and edge of the core.

5. A gas check pad comprising a plastic core having a wire cloth envelop, and an interlining of asbestos cloth between said en- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1

velop and said core upon the outer circumference and edges thereof.

6. A gas check pad comprising a plastic core, a wire cloth envelop therefor, and an interlining on the outer circumference and edges of the pad consisting of asbestos cloth coated with glue and linseed oil.

7 A gas check pad comprising a plastic core, a wire cloth envelop therefor, and an interlining upon the outer circumference and edges of the pad of asbestos cloth treated of asbestos cloth, and a plastic core composed of asbestos, tung oil, potash, lard oil and petroleum jelly, substantially as specified.

12. A plastic pad comprising in combination a pliable envelop and a plastic core composed of asbestos, tung oil, potash and a suitable grease, substantially in the proportions and manner specified.

13. A gas check pad having a core containing tung oil and grease.

14. A gas check pad having a core containing tung oil and petroleum jelly.

15. A gas check pad having a core containing tung oil, grease and asbestos.

16. A gas check pad having a'core containing tung oil, petroleum jelly and asbestos.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 19 day of January, 1906.

GREGORY GERDOM. lVithesses FRANK W. PEEKE, T. D, MERWIN.

Washington, D. C. 

